Sunday, December 28, 2008

Los Angeles, CA Will the First Amendment rights of independent television producers be jeopardized when city govenment controls all the public cable channels in January 2009? Is it possible that the political appointees serving on an oversight board will be disposed to protect those rights? .......Even if the programs cover issues not favored by government? You be the judge by looking at the record........

MAYOR'S HEAVY HAND?

For the past three years, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's four political appointees who serve on the Municipal Access Policy Board (MAPB) have steadfastly refused to investigate or hold a formal hearing into the unusual circumstances whereby Emmy Award-winning Full Disclosure Network® was removed from the LA City Government channel (Cityview 35) after having provided public affairs programming, to that channel since 1992, as a public service at no cost to the City. Now the City has adopted a plan developed by this same oversight (MAPB) body for the government to take control of all 14 public access channels and studios provided by Time Warner Cable for the past 25 years.

OVERSIGHT OR CONTROL?

Full Disclosure host Leslie Dutton and a number of citizens made a plea to MAPB oversight board, on July 27, 2006 during the "public comment" portion of the meeting. asking them to conduct a investigation and public hearing into the circumstances surrounding the removal of the program from Cityview channel 35. Here is a six minute video news blog of that meeting.

CORRUPTION CANCER SPREADS

Now, three years later, the L.A City funded Educational Channel, LA36, has removed Full Disclosure from their channel line up by claiming "technical problems", only on the Full Disclosure program, are preventing them from showing on the channel. In a series of meetings and exchange of correspondence, LA36 Channel refused to produce any "official" guidelines and technical standards for ALL content producers when requested by an Audio Engineering firm retained by the Full Disclosure program. However a recent "AUDIT" performed by the City Controller's Office released on December 17, 2009, claims that both channels are satisfactorily performing.

REVEALING VIDEO

Full Disclosure Network® is re-releasing a six minute Video News Blog featuring a chronology of events leading up to the abrupt termination of the Emmy Award winning public affairs program from the L. A. CityView Cable Channel 35.

COMMUNITY OUTCRY?

Appearing in this video news blog are community leaders who testified in support of the Full Disclosure Network® at the MAPB meeting. The video features clips of their requests for a full investigation and hearing.

Since 1992 the Full Disclosure®. program has been featured on CityView Channel 35, without cost to the City, as a public service at the request of various City Departments, agencies and Council members. The Full Disclosure Network®. is an educational, non-profit organization. In 2002, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented host Leslie Dutton with a public affairs Emmy Award for the series entitled “L.A.’s War Against Terrorism”, featuring LAPD Chief Bernard Parks, LAPD Lt. Ken Hillman, L.A. Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas and L.A. County Sheriff Leroy Baca, covering how government agencies would work together following 9/11.

CONFLICTING TERMINATION LETTERS?

This June 14, 2006 termination letter clearly states the immediate termination was due to “contentious content” while an Email sent by Councilman Bernard Parks to Producer Leslie Dutton contradicted the letter, stating he had not pulled his sponsorship of the program. The Full Disclosure Network™ can be seen on over 40 cable systems and the Internet. Billed as “the news behind the news” programs feature critical issues rarely addressed in depth on the regular news media.

VIEWERS URGED TO HELP

At the conclusion of this video news blog the Full Disclosure Network®. requests viewers to call the following people and ask why the program was removed from the channel.Tony Ighani Station Manager at 213-485-7561Bernard Parks, Council District 8 at 213-473-7008

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Los Angeles CAPolitical powerhouseStanley Sheinbaum, former Regent of the University of California (appointed by Gov. Gerry Brown) and former President of the Los Angeles Police Commission has jumped into the fight to save public access cable channels and studios in Los Angeles. Appearing in aFull Disclosure Network®Video News Blog (ten minutes) Mr. Sheinbaum describes why he wrote a letter appealing to Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. to intervene.

In this exclusive interview with the Full Disclosure host Leslie Dutton,Sheinbaumtalks about the importance of having public access cable operations in Los Angeles. As a long time benefactor of the ACLU Foundation and close associate ofRamona Ripston, of the ACLU of Southern California, Sheinbaum says that“public access is important to keep an arm on government.”

In anurgent letter to California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr., Mr. Sheinbaum appeals to him to seek emergency injunctive relief to stopTime Warner Cablefrom shutting down the 14 public access studios and channels in Los Angeles on December 31, 2008 until such time as the City has made arrangements to replace the facilities.

Letters from other organizations who have appealed to the Attorney General along withStanley Sheinbaumare:

BREAKING NEWS: On December 17, 2008 Los Angeles City Controller Laura Chick released theAudit Reporton the two City-run government cable channels. In that report she calls for “more diverse programming and reducing costs and enhancing revenues.” Read theAudit Report that is certain to cause concern among independent public access producers, who may be required to pay fees to have their programs appear on public access channels should the City take over the operations after December 31, 2008.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Los Angeles, CA. The Full Disclosure Network® presents a five minute exclusive video report on the ABC Nightline segment videotaped Tuesday, December 16th covering the campaign to save the public access cable channels with behind the scenes footage from the ABC interview with Leslie Dutton. The ABC Nightline segment will air nationwide on January 9, 2009 at 11:30 p.m.

APPEAL TO ATTORNEY GENERAL:

Host Leslie Dutton tells ABC Nightline that the independent producers’ have begun a campaign to enlist the California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, Jr. to file for emergency injunctive relief to stop Time Warner Cable from shutting down 14 public access studios and channels on December 31, 2008. These public channels been serving cable subscribers and producers in Los Angeles for over 25 years.

Among the groups and individuals sending letters to the Attorney General are:

CONTROL OF PUBLIC CHANNELS:With the apparent approval of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the public access issue languished, without Council attention or concern, for almost two years until the Time Warner deadline approached and the Holiday Season arrived. With very little time for the public to react, only then did the City Council push through plans to consolidate the 14 public access cable channels into four channels under government control and they failed to provide for even one dedicated public channel.

AFTER THOUGHT:Instead when the public objected , the Council approved an “after thought”, verbal motion that was sent to the Budget and Finance Committee requesting an investigation into possible funding. No date has been set for a hearing before the Budget & Finance Committee, nor is it know if there search for funding has begun. See Council file here: http://clkrep.lacity.org/onlinedocs/2006/06-2818_ca_12-03-08.pdf

SEND AUTOMATED LETTER TO AG:At the end of the video viewers are asked to send an automated letter to the Attorney General using a link below the video screen on the webpage. The letter urges the AG to file for injunctive relief under the Business & Professions code 17200, Sec. 3 to prevent Time Warner from shutting down the City's public access channels and studios, until such time as the City has replaced the facilities.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Los Angeles, CA The Full Disclosure program will once again be off the air on the LA 36 Cable channel tonight Sunday and Monday due to on-going " technical problems" at LA36, a City funded public access cable channel. However the programs continue to be shown on over 40 other public cable channels throughout California, without problems.

LA36 TECHNICAL PROBLEMS BEGANThis summer in late July and August the Full Disclosure Network programs on LA36 Public Cable Channel began looking rather strange. At times the video was fuzzy and the audio was so distorted that viewers called Full Disclosure to complain, saying they could not understand what was being said. This problem was not occuring with other programs featured on the channel nor on any other cable channels where Full Disclosure is featured.

UNWRITTEN "DELIVERABLE STANDARDS"Full Disclosure was notified by LA36 they had determined the source of the technical poblems was the master DVDs that must adhere to "Broadcast Standards" but refused to provide Full Disclosure with specifics. Full Disclosure retained an Audio Engineering firm who met with LA36 management and technical staff to determine how they were transferring the DVD video to their server, as he had already determined no problems with the Full Disclosure masters. LA36 admitted they were not using the master DVDs but dubbed tapes at 2x speed. When asked for a copy of the "Deliverable Standards" an industry term for audio and visual specifications required for content producers, LA36 indicated they did not have such specifications.

NO NOTICE OF OPERATION CHANGES TO PROVIDERSAfter problems continued, the LA36 General Manager informed Full Disclosure they had made major operational changes, that Time Warner was turning over control the operations were to be handled "in house". This gave credence to rumors circulating that Time Warner was going to shut down public access channels and studios by December 31, 2008. LA36 claimed technical problems encountered were only on Full Disclosure's master DVDs.

FULL DISCLOSURE RETAINS COUNSEL:Full Disclosure retained Bruce Maddox, expert audio engineer, as counsltant on the LA36 technical problems. He found the master DVDS in question, to be meet industry standards and acceptable for transcoding. In a meeting with Maddox and Full Disclosure producers LA36 management refused to provide written specifications known as "Deliverable Standards" for audio and video content, instead they agreed to accept three versions (formats) transcoded by Bruce Maddox, for delivery to LA36 for transfer to their new server to determine which version is compatible.

IS IT POSSIBLE?

Will Full Disclosure meet the unwritten standards of LA36?.

Stay tuned for next week's report to learn the outcome....................

Friday, December 05, 2008

Los Angeles, CAFaced with strong opposition from prominent and influential independent producers, the L. A City Council retreated from their plan to seize public cable channels and studios to consolidate the operations for government use. The fight to save public access cable operations gained momentum when the City Council voted unanimously on Wednesday December 3, 2008, to refer a controversial proposal to a second committee rather than call for a full Council vote. That vote would have allowed the City government control of all the public channels in Los Angeles.

Following the Council hearing,Full Disclosure®interviewedMr. Vin Di Bona, four time Emmy Award-winning and Peabody Award winning Executive Producer and creator of “America’s Funniest Home Videos” , who is also the former Chairman and currently Co-Chair of“The Caucus”http://www.caucus.org/a prestigious organization representing Producers, Writers and Directors and the New Media in Los Angeles. The Caucus is calling for the preservation of the public access cable operations in Los Angeles. (Watch 5 min video here)

On a motion by Councilman Bill Rosendahl, that was passed unanimously, the council referred to the matter to the Budget Committee. That Committee, chaired by Bernard Parks, will now be charged with the task of re-evaluating whether or how an approximately $30 million dollars in cable operators franchise fees to the city can be used for a public channel.

Although Council President Eric Garcetti called for six minutes testimony from each side, there were no requests from the public to support the Council’s proposal.

David Hernandez, President of the Los Angeles Public Access Coalition said “If the Council's plan to kill public access is approved, the public would be limited to one or two minutes on the government access Cityview Channel 35, provided they were granted permission to speak"

Full Disclosure Network®will release a full and complete video report covering the entire hearing, with testimony is to be aired on public access cable channels throughout the state and on the internet soon.

Tuesday, December 02, 2008

Los Angeles, CA Producers and community activists are mustering forces to rally support for saving the public cable channels and public access studios in Los Angeles, at a full City Council hearing to be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at 10 a.m. in the City Council Chanbers at 200 No. Spring Street, 3rd Floor.

CITY ATTORNEY TO FILE FOR INJUNCTION?According to David R. Hernandez, President of the L.A. Public Access Coalition (LAPAC) in addition to the City Council's consderations on Wednesday, City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo is considering a request made by the LAPAC to seek an Injunction under the California Business and Professions Code 17200 to prevent Time Warner Cable from closing down fourteen public access studios and channels until such time as the City has provided alternative and equal facilities in their place.

PUBLIC STUDIO CLOSURE UNETHICAL?In a letter dated November 30, 2008 Hernandez contends "the action of (Time Warner) closing fourteen public access sutdios offends public policy, is immoral, unethical, oppressive, unscrupulous and causes substantial injury to consumers who will be prevented from viewing independent programs on the City Public Access channels. Read the entire letter here.

COUNCIL TO SEIZE CONTROL OF PUBLIC CHANNELSOn November 22, 2008 the L. A. Council Committee on Information Technology Agency (ITA) approved a recommendation to consolidate all the public access channels into four government controlled channels and sent it on the the Full Council for final approval.

STATE LAW CREATED LOOPHOLEThe controversy surrounding the Time Warner Cable plans to close all public access operations by December 31, 2008 stems from legislation (DIVCA) enacted in 2007 establishing a State Franchising system under the oversight of the California Public Utilities Commission wherebycable operators pay a franchising fee to the Cities in leiu of operating and maintaining the public access studios and channels. See ITA website for description of recommendations.

L A PUBLIC ACCESS COALITION TO TESTIFY AT HEARINGIn addition to civic leader and Producer David Hernandez, some of the LAPAC group expected to attend and speak at the hearing are:

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Los Angeles, CA.TheFull Disclosure Network®presents an exclusive video report (12 min) on how the L. A. City Council is prepared to seize control of the public access cable channels. Having conducted almost no public debate regarding the 2007 state legislation (DIVCA) that revised and obscured the City's franchising authority and public access requirements, this video reveals the City is going to seize control of all public access channel operations on January 1, 2009.

TIME WARNER WINDFALL Under the City plan, Time Warner will apparently go unchallenged regarding the closing of all fourteen public access cable studios and channels previously required under cable franchise agreements. Instead, the city is opting that Time Warner provide only four public channels to be controlled by the government. Local public cable television producers who oppose the city's seizure of the channels are looking into to legal action to restore the 14 public channels.

Appearing in this 12 minute Video News Blog at the first and only public hearing are:

NO DEDICATED CHANNELS FOR PUBLIC The City plan makes no requirement for a dedicated channel for public use. The recommendation was approved the Council Committee on Information Technology Agency & General Services (ITAGS) on Tuesday, November 11, 2008. With the apparent backing of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and after the proposal sat "in committee" for almost two years, an ITA staff member finally and publicly presented a report to Council Committee members Bernard Parks and Chairman Tony Cardenas, who appeared , in the video, to be surprised about the impending death of the public access cable channels.

The Council Committee’s action is expected to be ratified at a meeting of the full Council on Tuesday, November 25 (agenda item 16).

Please Note: The Council Hearing was scheduled with just enough notice to comply with the Open Meetings law, just before the Thanksgiving holiday while the public and the mainstream media is distracted.

At the end of the video viewers are asked to click on the link below where they can send an automated letter to each and every one of the City Council members, City Attorney, City Controller and the Mayor.

Parts 1-2:Entitled "Feds Target Sheriff Using Media" features an exclusive videotaped interview with Mike Carona a few days after his arraignment in Federal Court on political corruption charges. Featuring commentary from legal experts Anthony Patchett, former Special Assistant District Attorney for L. A. County, Stan Goldman, Loyola Law Professor and former Fox News Legal Editor. The entire series can be viewed by individual segments here online:

Saturday, November 01, 2008

Los Angeles, CA. The Full Disclosure Network® (FDN) presents "the news behind the news" in a Special Cable TV Series featuring six short Video News Blogs covering Hot Topics, to debut on 45 cable channels starting this week end.

The Full Disclosure Network® has been produced by twice nominated, Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton and Producer T. J. Johnston. In 2002 the Full Disclosure® special series "L. A.’s War Against Terrorism" was recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a local Emmy Award for a public affairs, informational series. Channels and airtimes can be found on the website.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Los Angeles, CA In a Special Internet Report entitled“Russian Journalists Discover The First Amendment”theFull Disclosure Network®presents a fifteen-minute video featuring prominent U.S. Political authorities and five visiting Russian journalists who questioned theFull Disclosure Network®if the independent network has experienced opposition from U. S. political authorities.

The Russian visitors were part of a tour sponsored by the United States Library of Congress“Open World”program and facilitated by theInternational Visitors Council of Los Angeles. Meeting with Full Disclosure producersLeslie DuttonandT. J. Johnstonthe journalists specifically wanted to know details about the relationship between government authorities and the independent Full Disclosure Network.

The video reveals the sincere and heartwarming reaction of the Russian journalists after they learned, from Full Disclosure of the reaction by authorities to specific programs where conflicts and failed public policies were exposed.

Video clips from those programs feature political authorities:

Richard Thornburgh, Former U.S. Attorney General

Ken Starr, Presidential Prosecutor

Robert Woodward, Journalist-Author

Steve Cooley, Los Angeles District Attorney

Roger Carrick, Special Legal Counsel to LAUSD Office of Inspector General

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Los Angeles, CA Full Disclosure Network presents Part three and four of the complete series covering the future of Public Education consisting of four half hour shows each with three segments. Here is an insiders view of Public Education featuring long-time Los Angeles Unified School District School Board MemberDavid Tokofsky, who is a teacher and who presided over some of the most tumultuous and challenging years in the nations second largest school District. Presented here are six segments from Part 3 and Part 4 of the series on Streaming Video available here 24/7 and are featured on 47 cable systems in California, Washington D.C. and Massachusetts.

SEGMENT SEVEN: Politics, Power & Influence(8 min)According toDavid Tokofsky, Politics and education are inseparable. “Politics is the influence of other peoples behavior”. The Milken Institute estimates K-12 education in the United States is worth $250 billion. Billionaires Eli Broad, Bill Gates and Michael Milken are involved in Education and School Board governance, accelerating the struggle over power and control, efficiency, productivity, curriculum and instruction.

SEGMENT EIGHT:. “Belmont the Billion Dollar School”(8 min)David Tokofskywas a primary critic of LAUSD Belmont Learning Center, he describes how the school was not built to code with no accountability, no arbitration or litigation and acknowledges the same contractors have been rehired to build 170 new schools. Explains why Belmont was not funded by GO Bonds funds and struggles to explain how the District paid for books, desks, teachers and personnel after his parcel tax proposal did not fly.

SEGMENT NINE: “ District Flush With Billions in Bond Money”(8 min)David Tokofskydescribes the LAUSD attitude toward the $20 billion school construction project as being “Afflicted with Comfort” and asked if the District is being ripped off by unscrupulous contractors once again. He describes the struggle within the District as to who will control the Office of Ethics. The Board has apparently decided the Ethics Office should be located in the Office General Counsel instead of the Office of Inspector General, opting to “build a culture of ethics” rather investigations.

SEGMENT TEN: “ What Is The Primary Mission of Public Education?”(8 min)According toTokofsky, the Public Schools are providing much more than just education. Feeding children breakfast, lunch, counseling, health care, police protection. And, School Construction Program has been billed as an “Economic Stimulus” package to provide jobs, plus LAUSD owes billions for unfunded retirement benefits for teachers. He complains that schools are asked to do more that just educate, without funding.

SEGMENT ELEVEN “ Illegal Immigration Impacts Education”(8 min)For years the LAUSD has struggled with Immigrant Rights issues and student boycotts to demonstrate on such issues as their illegal immigration status.Tokofskysays students need to learn in class how to participate in the process and he points to the need to address other issues besides “status” there is the adult education issue.

SEGMENT TWELVE “What Is the Greatest Challenge to Public Education?”(8 min)Tokofskyfeels that Term Limits should be changed to a rotation of office, that the Board Staff has marginalized the effectiveness of the Board Members. And, he points to “At Large” Districts that limit the scope of Members and result in “unintended consequences” (dilution of power). He feels his greatest accomplishment was instituting Full Day Kindergarten classes and laments that the City Developer Fees are not paid to the District.

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Los Angeles, CA In an eight minute Video News Blog, the Full Disclosure Network reveals the eminent demise of “public access” cable television channels in the heart of the media world in the City of Los Angeles.

This video features clips from testimony of Los Angeles City Councilman Bill Rosendahl, a former Carter White House operative, who served as a Western Regional cable executive and public affairs television show host for Century Cable, Adelphia and Time Warner Cable companies in the Southern California area for over 20 years. Mr. Rosendahl emphatically laments the City’s move to shut down the public access cable channels.

Also appearing in the video is David Hernandez, long time civic activist and currently Executive Director of the San Fernando Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Hernandez describes how legislation sponsored by Southern Californians, State Assembly Leader Fabian Nunez and Lloyd Levine in 2007, sparked the move to shut down public access cable channels.

According to Hernandez, the Nunez/Lloyd legislation provided that cable companies could opt out of providing studio facilities by paying local governments a 2% cable franchise fee, instituting a “State Franchise Agreement” that is overseen by the California Public Utilities Commission. In 1984 the Federal Communications Act, was enacted as bi-partisan legislation that mandated public access to cable channels to counter balance the dominance of government-funded cable channels.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Los Angeles, CA The complete series covering the future of Public Education consisting of four half hour shows each with three segments. An insiders view of Public Education featuring long-time School Board Member David Tokofsky and an outsiders view from Civic Activist David Hernandez is presented here on Streaming Video. The segments are available here 24/7 and to be featured on 47 cable systems in California.

SEGMENT FOUR: CHOICE?, Public Schools: Charter vs Magnate Schools (time: 8:22 min) covering desegregation programs and “white flight” from the L.A Unified School District. Can parents and children be lured back to the public school system to Charter Schools and Magnate schools.? Long time Board member David Tokofsky describes the difference between Charter and Magnate schools.

SEGMENT FIVE: Charter School Assn. Wooed by LAUSD To Help Pass $7 Billion Bond. (Time: 11:41 min) Magnate Schools with special programs such as Jr. Police Academy, Arts, Math and Science to attract minority students meet desegregation goals. Incentives vs forced programs is costly according to David Tokofsky.

SEGMENT SIX: Can School Officials Be Held Accountable? (Time: 7:45 min) School Board and local elections are won and lost with very little participation according to David Hernandez who points out the checks and balances and pitfalls. Are the teachers inspired to be a catalyst for opportunities and change? Tokofsky, who is a teacher, discusses the need for more opportunities and not to abandon the current system envisioned by the founding fathers.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Los Angeles, CA The complete four part series covering the future of Public Education featuring long-time School Board Member David Tokofsky and Civic Activist David Hernandez is presented here on Streaming Video” in twelve separate segments, available 24/7 and to be released starting one segment at a time on September 11, 2008 each and every week there after over the next twelve weeks.

SEGMENT ONE: L A Mayor’s Attempt To Take-Over LAUSDTime: 8:35 minDavid Tokofsky describes how Mayor Villaraigosa recruited leaders in the California Legislature to sponsor a bill to carve out selected schools from the District to control, claiming it as a “Community Partnership” but which involved the politics of San Fernando Valley and left new immigrants, undocumented immigrants out of the plan.David Hernandez, provides his insight to Mayor’s plan and raises questions as to who will benefit.

SEGMENT TWO: Charter Schools…Innovation By-pass Ed Code?Time: 11:38 minWhy are wealthy individuals involved in charting the course for public education? David Tokofsky explains the $250 to 320 billion national dollars available for public education is luring venture capitalists to the Charter School business. By offering a change to the status quo, can there be a return on the investments made by providing union jobs? This scenario and Charter School Reform is explored with commentary from David Hernandez, Exec. Director, San Fernando Chamber of Commerce.

SEGMENT THREE: Charter Schools: Choice & Accountability?Time: 8:38 minDavid Tokofsky describes the Charter School operations, the checks and balances and the pitfalls. Are the teachers inspired to be a catalyst for opportunities and change? Tokofsky, who is a teacher, discusses the need for more opportunities and not to abandon the current system envisioned by the Founding Fathers.

Friday, August 08, 2008

Los Angeles, CA.The Full Disclosure Network® presents an exclusive video report on how California Taxpayers pay matching funds every time voters in Los Angeles approve billions in school bonds for the what is described as “the Beast” or an economic engine known as the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). And those bonds end up costing taxpayers double the amount with interest paid to bond holders

LAUSD officials describe in the video, how a new proposed $7 Billion dollar school bond, if it is approved by voters, should be considered an “Economic Stimulus Plan” for the region. They tout the bond will employ workers, generate construction of new schools during a time of economic slow down in the area.

At the end of the video viewers are asked to leave their comments and participate in an online survey by voting on the following questions:

Should all Californians vote on the LA Bonds too, since they pay matching funds?

Should the bond language disclose how much interest will be paid for the bonds?

Which should be the priority of the school district be: 1) educating the children ? or 2) stimulating the economy?

Known as “the news behind the news”Full Disclosure Network® cable and Internet videos provide coverage rarely reported by the regular news media. The videos are also featured on the YOU TUBE at the following URL http://www.youtube.com/FullDisclosureNetwrk.

Saturday, August 02, 2008

Los Angeles, CA. The FULL DISCLOSURE NETWORK® presents an exclusive video report covering Hispanic politicians adding more fuel to the racial conflict by further dividing the races in their opening dedication ceremony for the new “Vista Hermosa” park in downtown Los Angeles.

The park is immediately adjacent to the Belmont Learning Center which is expected to open for classes in September having been just renamed after the late Hispanic Congressman Edward Roybal.

Known as “the news behind the news”Full Disclosure Network® cable and Internet videos provide coverage rarely reported by the regular news media. The videos are also featured on the YOU TUBE at the following URL http://www.youtube.com/FullDisclosureNetwrk.

Monday, July 28, 2008

Los Angeles, CA The Full Disclosure Network® presents a seven minute previewvideo from a two-part series entitled “Belmont Opens: Toxic or Not?” The billion dollar high school that was built on top of the “old Los Angeles Oil Field” is about to open to students for the first time since this controversial school construction project began almost two decades ago. Renamed for the third time, Belmont is now called Edward Roybal High School.

The new two-part series features LAUSD Officials touting the partial completion of the Belmont project and showcases the $20 billion dollar expansion program of the District as part of a “kick off” ceremony for the National School Construction week. Noteably missing from the program was any references to the presence of an earthquake fault, deadly hydrogen sulfide and methane gases that plagued and delayed the construction project for so many years.

Featured in these latest two segments of an on-going series on the school are:

This series is to be featured on 47 cable systems and the Internet and is to be featured on DCTV public channels in Washington D.C.. A complete listing of channels and airtimes, by community can be found from this link.

Friday, July 11, 2008

The Full Disclosure Network® 2007 four-part cable TV series covering the Federal prosecution of Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona has been nominated for an L.A. Area Emmy Award in the Informational, Public Affairs Series category (50% or more In Studio). A five minute video preview of the nominated series entitled "Feds Nail OC Sheriff: Justice Or Abuse" is available for viewing here .

This series was sponsored and originally featured on Charter Communications Cable system in Glendale and distributed to 45 cable systems. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will announce the Emmy winners in all categories at an Awards ceremony to be held on Saturday, September 6, 2008 at the Leonard Goldenson Theater.

Included in the series is an exclusive interview with Sheriff Mike Carona only days after his arraignment in Federal Court. Other experts on the subject of Federal Prosecutions, procedures and sentencing who describe the possible fate of the Sheriff are:

This is the second time Full Disclosure Network® has been nominated for the prestigious L.A Area Emmy Award. In 2002 the Series on L.A.’s War Against Terrorism won the Emmy in the same category and was the first time ever that an independently produced, public access program had been honored, besting other nominees from KNBC, KTLA and KOCE at the time.

Since 1992 the Full Disclosure Network® has been produced by Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton and Producer T. J. Johnston. In 2002 the Full Disclosure® special series “L. A.’s War Against Terrorism” was recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a local Emmy Award for a public affairs, informational series. Channels and airtimes can be found on the website.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Los Angeles, CA The Full Disclosure Network® is re-releasing part one of a two-part interview with noted journalist, Ken Reich a long time staff writer with the Los Angeles Times, who passed away on Monday, June 30, 2008. This part-one of the 2002 interview covers the issue of bias of the Times coverage of the Israeli—Palestinian conflict and was originally featured on 45 cable television systems but is now being made available for the first time on the Internet. Watch the full show here (27 min)

Ken Reich first joined the Los Angeles Times staff in 1965, and during his 39 year career he served as a general assignment reporter, a political writer, a lead Olympics writer, Atlanta Bureau Chief and even Editor of the Op Ed page. He started out covering the Presidential campaigns of Eugene McCarthy and George Wallace, and went on to cover Jimmy Carter’s campaign in 1976. He had a distinguished academic career and travelled extensively to the Far East, India, Oman, Baharan, and United Arab Emirates. He visited 79 countries throughout the world.

Ken Reich appeared on numerous Full Disclosure® programs to defend and explain how the Los Angeles Times covers some of the most important issues of the day. Here are few of the questions fielded by Ken Reich in this program.

Are Times reporters required to have knowledge of the people and the area they are covering?

When assigning a reporter to cover the Holy Land, who decides what they should cover? Are their stories scrutinized for choice of words, coloring of the article?

How is it a Times reporter refers to a “suicide bomber” while administration officials refer to the same incident as a “homicide bomber”?

Is there a need to have “equal” coverage to the Palestinian point of view?

How is the Jewish community receiving the Times coverage of the conflict?

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Los Angeles, CA The Full Disclosure Network® presents a six minute video preview of a new two-part series covering the growing controversy over violent crimes committed by illegal alien gangs in Los Angeles.

The controversy was sparked when an 18th Street gang member shot and killed 17 year old Jamiel Shaw, II, a popular L.A High school football star, just three doors from his home. The alleged killer, Pedro Espinosa, had been released from L.A. County jail 24 hours earlier after serving four months on assault and weapons charges and was in the country illegally.

In the series both Los Angeles Councilman Dennis Zine and family Jamiel Shaw, II, the murder victim, describe their proposals to revise LAPD’s Special Order 40 in order to expedite the deportation of criminal alien gang members.

COUNCIL DISPUTE: Council Chair of the Public Safety Committee Jack Weiss claims in a statement issued by is office on June 24th, that LAPD Chief Bratton must issue a report before he can schedule hearings on Zine's Motion, a claim that is disputed by Zine in a statement issued June 24th.

GANGS, EXTORTION & DEPORTATIONS: Councilman Zine points to many issues of concern about the current LAPD policies and practices saying:“I want to know why the LAPD is working with ten ICE agents in the Valley, deporting violent gang members, but not doing this in other parts of the city?”.

Also included in the series are video clips featuring law enforcement and civilian police officials describing their position on Special Order 4 video and the history of Special Order 40:Featured Guests:

Councilman Dennis Zine, LAPD Retired and currently Reserve Officer

U.S. Army Sgt. Anita Shaw, mother of murder victim

Jamiel Shaw, Sr: father of murder victim

Steve Ipsen, Pres. Association of Deputy District Attorneys

LAPD Chief William Bratton

LAPD Chief Daryl Gates (ret)

Edith Perez (1998), Pres. LA Police Commission

Rick Caruso (2002) Pres. LA Police Commission

David Cunningham, III, (2004) Pres. LA Police Commission

This two part series is to be featured on 45 cable systems and is available on DVD from the web site at www.fulldisclosure.net. A preview of the program is also featured on YouTube

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Los Angeles, CA Is the prosecution guilty of ethics violations in the Jamiel Shaw murder case? Full Disclosure Network® presents an eight minute Video News Blog featuring family members of murdered high school football star, Jamiel Shaw, II who was gunned down just three doors from his home. Police have arrested Pedro Espinosa, an illegal alien gangbanger who was released early from L.A. County jail after serving four months for weapons charges and assault on a police officer.

Appearing in the video are the victim’s aunt Althea Shaw and father Jamiel Shaw,Sr. describing why the family members have filed an Ethics Complaint with the State Bar and District Attorney's Office against the Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee. Also providing background on the State Bar complaint process is former Co-Chair of the State Bar Disciplinary Committee Deputy D A Steve Ipsen.

A few days prior to his re-election, District Attorney Steve Cooley removed the Deputy DA Michele Hanisee from the case. This also followed Mr. Shaw Sr.’s appearance on radio talk shows to expose the fact that she had been pressuring the family to stop speaking out against LAPD’s Special Order 40, “the don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that prevents police officers from asking individuals if they are in the country legally and Mr. Shaw said she told them she was going to describe the victim as a gangbanger because she needed a motive for the murder. According to law enforcement authorities Jamiel Shaw, II had no police record, never been arrested and has never had contact with school police or been suspended from school.

This Video News Blog on the Shaw’s complaint is also featured on the YouTube Channel along with other videos that are available for sharing. Full Disclosure® will be providing periodic updates on the case and following the progress on the “Jamiel’s Law” campaign to revise Special Order 40.

Friday, June 06, 2008

Los Angeles, CA On March 8, 2008 an 18th Street gang member shot and killed 17 year old Jamiel Shaw, II, a popular high school football star just three doors from his home. The news that the accused killer, Pedro Espinosa, was an illegal alien who had been released from L. A. County jail, after serving only four months on assault and weapons charges, outraged the Shaw family and sent shock waves throughout the community.

In a Full Disclosure Network® special series, Jamiel Shaw, Sr. and U.S. Army Sgt. Anita Shaw, parents of the murder victim, describe the circumstances of the cold blooded shooting in their neighborhood. Watch preview here They also reveal the unusual and unexpected reactions from elected officials and law enforcement following their endorsement of a new law (Jamiel’s Law) to change the lenient city policy that prohibits police officers from enforcing immigration law or verifying immigration status of gang members.

Some of the developments described by the Shaws are:

The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office pressured the Shaw’s to stop criticizing the City’s controversial “don’t ask, don’t tell” immigration policy known as LAPD’s Special Order 40.

Los Angeles City Council members attempted to silence Shaw family members from speaking before the Council and urged them to drop their opposition to Special Order 40.

Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee informed the Shaws that the D.A.’s office was prepared to claim the murder was gang related and in order to do so the D.A. would contend that their son was a gang member.

The Shaws detail their outrage regarding the Deputy District Attorney’s stated intentions to tarnish their popular son’s reputation. They cite the facts that their son had no gang affiliations, no police records whatsoever and to the contrary was praised as role model by teachers and all who knew him.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Los Angeles, CA -- The L.A. County District Attorney and the L. A Superior Courts have declined immigration enforcement actions such as deportation of criminal alien gang members, as a matter of policy.

The Full Disclosure Network® is releasing a three minute Video News Blog, featuring statements from the official spokespersons for the Superior Court and the District Attorney's office who tells Full Disclosure that "our prosecutions don't have anything to do with immigration policy".

Much like the Los Angeles Police Department's Special Order 40 "don't ask, dont' tell" policy, the Los Angeles Superior Court spokeswoman, Geri Ann Haslet states their policy is "we do not treat undocumented persons any differently than anyone else".

The Full Disclosure Network® Video News Blog provides insight into the hands off policy of local law enforcement and the courts where illegal criminal aliens apparently have equal rights and protections under the law. This Video News Blog is featured on the Full Disclosure Network website at http://www.fulldisclosure.net/ and is to be featured on 45 cable television channels as part of a Video News Blog Special Series.

Steve Ipsen, President of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys, who is a critic of the hands off immigration policy, told Full Disclosure that "illegal alien gang members who are released from jail, on probation in Los Angeles County, must have the approval of the District Attorney's office and in fact are ordered by the Courts to stay in the United States and to obtain employment".

Following the March 2, 2008 murder of a popular high school football star, Jamiel Shaw, II, a criminal gang member by the name of Pedro Espinosa, was arrested for the crime. Espinosa had been early released from L. A. County jail after service four months on assault and weapons charges.

Neither the District Attorney’s office or the Courts raised any questions as to whether or not he should be removed from the country. The L. A. County Sheriff’s Department failed to notify Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) that Espinosa was in the country illegally.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Los Angeles, CA Is it a co-incidence that it has been almost 20 years, since the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office prosecuted a big dollar, white collar crime? Or could it be there are no more big corruption cases or major crimes committed by powerful and prominent people in Los Angeles?

In a Full Disclosure Network® two-part series Steve Ipsen, President of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys (L. A. County) and Albert Robles, Constitutional Attorney who serves as an elected member of the So. California Water Replenishment Board both contend that corruption is alive and well in Los Angeles County.

Watch this program on L. A. Cable Channel 36 as follows:

Sunday, May 18th 8-9 p.m.

Monday, May 19th 4-5 p.m.

Internet: Preview & Six Segments from links below

These two challengers running against incumbent L A County District Attorney SteveCooley in the June 2008 election, point out that the current DA has refused to prosecute the rich and powerful while successfully lobbying for a $55,000 pay raise bringing his salary to $292,300, making him one of the highest-paid government officials anywhere. Steve Cooley declined to be interviewed for this program and refused to provide a videotaped statement on the issues raised.

Watch this seven minute preview from the series that is featured on 45 cable systems and the internet. The full two-part programs will be available for viewing (for a limited time up to the election) from the Full Disclosure website from the following links:

Steve Ipsen:“The corruption that exists in the county that I'm aware of, that I can state here today is with the District Attorney's office.”“This DA doesn't deserve to be paid when he isn't doing his job.”Albert Robles:“He has refused to prosecute the pedophiles and child molesters that work and still work in the Catholic Church”.“Steve Cooley takes untold amounts of money from the criminal defense sector”.

This series is featured on 45 cable systems starting May 14, 2008. A complete listing of channels and airtimes, by community can be found from this link.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

The Full Disclosure Network® presents a Video Blog Special covering Foreign Student Visa Loopholes, School Bonds and the Audits and Investigations of the LAUSD, to be featured the Week End on Cable TV as follows:

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Los Angeles, CA. The Full Disclosure Network® presents Part 3 and 4 of an exclusive cable series examining the awesome challenge faced by defendants who have been indicted in the Federal Justice system. These programs are part of an on-going series covering Federal prosecutions involving high profile defendants and public figures. Watch the full shows as follows:

OC Sheriff Mike Carona says at the outset he believes the Federal Court system is fair.

Former Federal Prosecutor Jan L. Handzlik who is a partner in the lawfirm of Howery, LLP, describes how the Federal Process is designed to work but points out some of the pitfalls and loopholes that often take place.

Mark H. Allenbaugh, a former Staff Attorney with the U. S. Sentencing Guidelines Commission and now a Partner with the Lawfirm of Allenbaugh & Samini, LLP, details how Federal sentences are so intimidating that 95 to 97 percent of all defendants end up pleading guilty and many agree to testify against other defendants to gain a lesser sentence.

Allenbaugh and Anthony Patchett (former Special Assistant L.A. District Attorney)noted that it is not unusual for defendants who plead innocent are then found guilty of crimes not related to their indictments. i.e. (perjury, obstructing justice, etc.) as it is too difficult for the prosecutors to prove their case on initial charges.

According to the experts, defendants who plead guilty are also forced to waive their right to appeal overly harsh sentences.

Since 1992 the Full Disclosure Network® has been produced by Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton and Producer T. J. Johnston and is featured on 45 cable systems and the Internet. In 2002 the Full Disclosure® special series “L. A.’s War Against Terrorism” was recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences with a local Emmy Award for a public affairs, informational series. Channels and airtimes can be found on the website.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Los Angeles, CA. — Full Disclosure Network® exposes the conflict between the Federal and State Justice systems over the “Special Order 40” policy and the names used to describe illegal immigrants, in a free video news blog.

This 9 min video is available on demand and features United States Attorney Debra Yang(2004) describing what the meaning of the word "status" is, as it relates to illegal immigrants working as security at Los Angeles International Airport.

Describing LAPD policy regarding illegal immigrants are :

LA Police Commission Presidents,

Rick Caruso (2003),

Edith Perez( 1998)

David Cunningham, III (2004)

LAPD Chief Bernard Parks (1998-2001)

INS District Director Richard Rogers. (1995)

Exclusive audiotaped messages (1998) from

Geri Ann Haslit L. A. County Superior Court and

Sandy Gibbons, Spokesperson for the L.A. County District Attorney

The video reveals the conflicts and differences of policy when using the words “undocumented, aliens, immigrants and person “out of status.”

The Full Disclosure® Video News Blog is moderated by Emmy Award winning host Leslie Dutton and demonstrates, with video clips, the dilemma faced by Federal and local law enforcement officials when implementing the “don’t-ask, don’t-tell” LAPD policy known as Special Order 40.

Video clips used in the Full Disclosure® Video News Blog were taken from full length interviews with law enforcement over the past sixteen years that have been featured on 45 cable systems and the internet website at http://www.fulldisclosure.net/

Saturday, April 05, 2008

Los Angeles, CA What impact did the many years of Soviet Communist occupation of Hungary have on the culture and society? The Full Disclosure Network® presents a nine minute video preview from a two-part series entitled “Communism’s Deadly Effects” featuring the strikingly different experience of two prominent Hungarians; one who fled to the United States as a child with his family in 1956 and one who remained and became a part of the Soviet regime that occupied Hungary.

His Excellency András Simonyi, Hungarian Ambassador to the United States from 2004-2007 and Thomas Kállay, a prominent U. S. Attorney are featured in this series providing a glimpse into why they chose their opposite paths and examining their reasons for doing so.

Here are a few points made in this series that features historical video clips of secret police legions, armed “Freedom Fighters” performing maneuvers during the six days of freedom in 1956 prior to being crushed by Soviet tanks in response to the uprising:

Ambassador András Simonyi, tells Full Disclosure he longed for Democracy even though he remained in Hungary and that his role as a leader of KISZ a Soviet Communist youth organization and foreign minister for the Soviet regime was not a big deal.

Thomas Kállay describes the devastating effect of the Communist occupation by citing the death of creativity in Hungary following the 1956 uprising and Soviet reprisals.

This series is to be featured on 45 cable systems starting April 14, 2008. A complete listing of channels and airtimes, by community can be found from this link.